Page 5 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 27

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Ladies Only Boxing opens at Champs

By Khadijah Vakily unwelcome.

ince January, a new ladies only “There’s everything from beginner
Sclass has been running at the to advanced, open to all ages and all
Champs Eastside Boxing Club. fi tness levels,” said Lalonde. “What
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., we tell people is to go at your own
students participate in an hour- level--you do what you can do. That’s
long boot camp boxing workout, what we encourage for sure.”
before switching over to an hour of “There is that perception. I
kundalini yoga.
think that’s why a lot of people—
Elaine Mason is the main instructor especially women-- shy away from
for the ladies’ program, currently a coming to the regular class because
level 1 kundalini yoga instructor and there are men there and they feel
a level 2 boxing coach. She is also that they can’t keep up physically,”
an assistant coach for the regular added Mason, whose goal through

classes held at the club. assessing students’ fitness levels
is to give them an opportunity to
“We decided to offer a class
challenge themselves and get into
for women who may be a little
intimidated going to a boxing class shape.
full of men, or people who are just Another worry for some women
starting out and want to see if it’s is the thought of getting a bulky
something that they’re interested physique. Lalonde states that
in,” said Mason. while students who stick with it
will become more muscular, their
Workouts include skipping,
strength training, core training and feminine form will not vanish.
cardio. “You actually end up with a very
small body fat percentage. That’s
Yoga classes begin by tuning in
what boxing is about—it’s a very

with a chant called the adi mantra, (Left to right) Miriam Lalonde, Elaine Mason and Chelsea McGillis flash
before warming up and performing lean sport, so you have to get lean,” a smile after an evening of working out. Submitted Photo
said Lalonde.
a set (or kriya) and followed
by a session of relaxation and There are more advantages to
meditation. enrolling in boxing than just learning
how to throw a punch.
As a registered nurse working in
mental health and addictions, Mason “Boxing is really great for weight
sees the benefit of practicing yoga loss. Personally, when I started a

from a professional standpoint, as year ago I was at 200 pounds and
she also incorporates it in her work I’m at 150 now. I’m a runner also,
with clients. so I found that boxing helped me
increase my speed and it increased
“It’s yoga of awareness, so it’s
my endurance, something that I
creating that awareness of our
consciousness (and) awareness of never thought it would have done
for running,” said Lalonde, pointing
ourselves,” said Mason. “There
are different kriyas which work on out the additional gains of faster
a variety of things. You can work reaction time, a good outlet for stress
release and a whole lot of fun.
on issues of anger, you can work

on disease-resistance, working on For Mason, the benefits of taking
different body systems like the boxing or yoga are a boost of self-
kidneys and liver (and) different confi dence.
organs.”
“Forwomen, it’s the empower-
Miriam Lalonde is an amateur/ ment, that sense of feeling fit but

novice female boxer, attending feeling empowered, and knowing
both the regular and the ladies only that—not to give them a false sense
boxing classes at the club. She also of security, but empowering them
helps newcomers to the female and making them feel that they are
class, showing them how to wear capable and that they can take care
protective wraps and the proper of themselves,” said Mason.
stances.
For more information, contact
She stressed that women who the Champs Boxing Club at
are worried about the perceived 613-938-3281, or visit their location
intensity of boxing should not feel at 223 Jarvis St.